What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belvidere has the most expensive homes ($239k median).

Orleans has the most affordable homes ($156k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Belvidere	Orleans
People
Population	422Lowest	809Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	-3.7% VT: +2.8%
Median age	40.7±6.5Lowest 6% below VT	41.7±5.8Highest 3% below VT
	Orleans and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22%±4Highest VT: 17.9%	17.9%±4.5Lowest VT: 17.9%
	Belvidere and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	8.8%±4Lowest VT: 21.4%	19.7%±3.2Highest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.9%Highest VT: 43.8%	24.8%Lowest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.4%±1.3Lowest VT: 7%	3.7%±2.1Highest VT: 7%
	Orleans and Belvidere are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,563±$18kHighest about the VT average	$57,159±$10kLowest 30% below VT
	Belvidere and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$239,200±$51kHighest 24% below VT	$156,300±$18kLowest 51% below VT
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,542±$1kHighest 25% above VT	$810±$94Lowest 34% below VT
	Belvidere and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,908Highest 22% below VT	$3,019Lowest 40% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.7%±53.8Highest VT: 48.4%	27.3%±17.2Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Belvidere and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.5%Lowest VT: 10.1%	8.2%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	86.1%Highest VT: 73.2%	64.1%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 13 yrs newer than VT	1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 60% above VT	31 minLowest 33% above VT
Work from home	9.4%±7.6Highest VT: 16.9%	8.3%±3.7Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Belvidere and Orleans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.